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Health Advisory: Increase in Tuberculosis Cases in the Lower Yakima Valley
03/25/2025 Situation The Yakima Health District is reporting a significant increase in active tuberculosis (TB) cases in Yakima County. Over the past eight months, there has been a rise in confirmed cases, promoting heightened surveillance and precautionary measures. Key Updates Actions Required for Providers (Click image to view) 2. Infection Control Measures 3. Reporting of…
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Provider Alert 10/19/2020: State updates return to school guidance for COVID-19 cases, HIV clusters & Outbreaks, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults (MIS-A)
Health Advisory, HIV & STDs, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Novel Coronavirus, Provider Resources, SchoolsOctober 19, 2020 Requested Actions Review updated guidance from The Washington State Department of Health (DOH)for allowing children to return to school or childcare and school staff to return to work following a positive COVID-19 symptom screening, as it pertains to potential impact on primary care and other healthcare providers. Be aware CDC issued…
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First Confirmed Case of West Nile Virus in Yakima County
First confirmed case of West Nile Virus reported in Yakima County Requested Actions Be aware that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitos in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties. Yakima County has reported the first human case of WNV in Washington this year. Be aware of signs and symptoms of WNV infection. Fax…
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Situation Update 9/03/2020
Situation Update 09/03/2020 Contact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-6509 Requested actions No community-based testing will be occurring for the next three weeks. Providers urged to increase COVID-19 testing capacity to support additional people seeking testing. Reduce barriers to testing such as scheduling appointments several days out, or requiring symptoms to get tested, etc.…
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8/28/2020 Health Advisory: Influenza and COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Health Advisory, Influenza, Influenza Update, News and Alerts, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware CDC released new guidance on preventing influenza with vaccines during the 2020-2021 season. Reinforce masking and social distancing recommendations with patients. DOH survey of Yakima County residents who have utilized community testing locations show that 76% trust their doctor to inform them about COVID-19 recommendations. Washington State Department of Health guidance has…
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8/24/20 Health Advisory: Immunization Updates for Providers
Requested actions Support families in meeting school and childcare-related immunization requirements. Be aware of the State Board of Health immunization rule change. Anticipate increased requests and demand. Be aware of the new guidelines regarding Tdap in schools. Provide students with medically verified immunization records for schools. Students must have their records by the first day of school. Follow CDC guidance to…
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8/4/20 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider Resources, UncategorizedRequested actions Be aware CDC updated its COVID-19 isolation duration guidance. Test all patients with new onset of COVID-19 symptoms as well as close contacts to confirmed cases, regardless of age or health status. Testing should be completed within 24 hours of symptom onset. Ensure your facility is able to provide COVID-19 testing to your patients…
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Update #14: Interim COVID-19 Guidance
**Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Requested Actions Be aware Washington State Department of Health (DOH) updated its COVID-19 testing guidance. Test all patients with COVID-19 symptoms and asymptomatic people from a priority population including close contacts of confirmed cases (see details below). Be aware of additional laboratories that can…
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7/7/20 – Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updates for Providers
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesRequested actions Be aware Washington State Department of Health (DOH) updated its COVID-19 testing guidance. Test all patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Test asymptomatic people from a priority population (see details below). Reporting Providers must fax positive lab results with demographic information to 509-249-6628. Background Last week, DOH updated its COVID-19 testing guidance for healthcare providers. The updates include:…
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Update #12 & Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19
Health Advisory, Infection Control, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider Resources**Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** Test all patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 Healthcare providers should test all patients with new onset of symptoms consistent with COVID-19, regardless of their age of health status. COVID-19 patients may present with: Cough or Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing OR…
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Needlestick Injury or Other Blood Exposure Procedures – Training Document
Needlestick Injury or Other Blood Exposure Procedure Purpose: Prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Definition of substantial exposure to potentially infectious body fluids: Any percutaneous, mucosal, or non-intact skin contact with the blood or other potentially infectious bodily fluids of another person. In some instances, the Health Department may consider gross exposure of intact skin to…
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Update #11 & Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesContact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-650 **Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** BACKGROUND In the United Kingdom and Europe, a possible link has been reported between COVID-19 and a serious inflammatory disease recently termed “Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Temporally Associated with COVID-19.” As of…
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Health Advisory: Update #10 & Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19
Emerging Diseases and Conditions, Health Advisory, News and Alerts, Notifiable Conditions, Novel Coronavirus, Provider ResourcesContact: Melissa Sixberry, Director of Disease Control 509-249-6509 **Clinical leadership is expected to schedule time to review guidelines with staff** REQUESTED ACTIONS Be aware that DOH’s new COVID-19 testing guidelines expand testing to all symptomatic and certain asymptomatic people Be aware that CDC guidelines now require 10 days before COVID-19 positive workers…